Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-02-02
The Whiskey Business.

The past week has been AN eventful
one for persons engaged i'm the liquor
business in Barber county, and from
present appearances, the fun has just
commenced.
Until within the past three weeks,
there had been little done toward en-
forcing the prohibitory law in this coun-
ty. At Kiowa there were no less than
20 saloons and places where whiskey
could he obtained without even the
formality of statement or prescription.
In Medicine Lodge liquor could be pur-
chased at eight places, and it was the
exception when abatement was requir-
ed of the applicant.
County Attorney Jones announced
when he took charge of his Office that
he expected to do his full duty without
fear or favor. He then took up the
cases started 10y his predecessor, and
earnestly prosecuted them to the best of
his ability; and if there were no convic-
tiOns, 1t is generally admitted that it
was not his fault. While these prose-
lions were in progress, the impression
gained ground that it was decidedly to
the interest of the liquor men to employ
certain persons to defend them, and the
talk was public that this was the only
certain way to get an acquittal, if not
immunity from further prosecutions.
1t was also announced that pool or
combination had been formed, the OBJ.
ject of which was to provide against
convictions in case the liquor dealers
were prosecuted. 1t was announced
that Is dealers in the county, tmost of
them doing business at Kiowa) would
contribute Sl0peT month to fund to be
used in paying an attorney TO guaran-
tee them acquittals in case of prosecu-
ton; that the first assessment was at
terward raised to $40, with the under
standing that the monthly assessments
would be but So by each dealer, there
after. In consideration OF the dealers
paying the assessments, they would be
protected from paying the cities any
fines.
This arrangement may not have ma
tured, but just the same, it was secret
ly discussed. 1t would have been a rich
plum for the attorney so fortunate as to
receive ii. For the first month he
would have received $500, and every
month thereafter his income would
have been Sl40-provided. of course, he
could keep up his end of the contract.
Last Saturday, there occurred sur
prise To the liquor men and the people
generally, when +. Sample returned
here from Topeka, where he had gone
several days before, armed with COM
mission from Attorney General Brad
ford, authorizing him, Sample, to act
as deputy attorney general, within and
for the district OF Barber county, as
contemplated by section IL of Chapter
l49, of the laws of 1885. which says:
And whenever the county
attorney shall he unable, or shall neg
lect or refuse To enforce the provisions
of this act IN his county, or for any re
son whatever the provisions of this act
ahall not be enforced in any county. il
shall be the duty of the attorney gener-
al To enforce the same in such county:
and Tor that purpose he may appoint as
many assistants as he shall see fit, and
he and his assistants shall be authro-
lied TO sign, verify and file all such
complaints, infOrmations, petitions and
papers as the county attorney is autho-
rlZed to sign, verify or file. and do and
perform any act that the county attor-
ney might lawfully do or perform; and
for such services he shall receive the
tn nNf
would be entitled to for like services. to
be taxed and collected in the same man.
ner."
AS soon as Mr.. Sample arrived here.
Saturday. he went to each place in the
city, handling liquor without permit,
and notified them to close down at once.
And they closed, tight and fast, and are
closed yet.
1t remains to be seen whether Coun-
ty Attorney Jones and Deputy Attor
ney General Sample will get along har-
moniously.
We understand that the former has
expressed the belief that he can take
care of the criminal business of Barber
county without the assistance that he
had not asked for; and we learn that
Mr.. Sample says that the open saloons
in Barber county are to be a thingof the
past.
Certainly, then, with two such vigil
LIANT officers we may expect justice to be
dealt out in gTeatlumps, as it were.
What effect the new order of things
will have on the defense fund.- re-
mains to be seen. We are also unable
to state what effect it will have on the
fund that was raised to break up the
grand jury.
So ends the frst chapter